Keeping the “Ama” Tradition Alive in the Seas of Mie

An ama diver comes ashore with her catch.

Divers warm up around the fire in the ama hut.

Kimura heads for the market where she will sell her day’s catch.

Nomura Reiko, 85, regales visitors with tales of her more than six decades beneath the waves.

Clockwise from top left: Grilling shellfish on the hut’s fire; oysters, scallops, and turban shells fresh from the bay; ama perform a traditional dance for visitors; Okano Mitsue, 70, works both at the ama hut and continues to dive.

Ishigami-san is in the grounds of Shinmei Shrine. Legend says that it can grant every woman one wish during her life.

Ōno Aiko, a new member of the local ama community, removers her diving weights after coming ashore.

A former Tokyoite, Ōno now considers herself “part of the ama family.”